Choosing a K-1 Fiance or CR-1 Spouse Visa in 2021

[Caboose29 172]

I'm about to start my K-1 journey, but after doing some reading here it seems like doing a CR-1 may be better, faster, easier.  It's my understanding under "'normal" circumstances a K-1 gets my significant other here quicker, but with Covid, and the hassles after she gets here (AoS, SS, etc.), would it be a better choice to just get married now, and file for a CR-1?  If it matters, she lives in Russia.

 

I know no one has a crystal ball, but just seeking advice from those that know much more about this process than me.  I have read a few posts from people who got K-1s, but afterwards, wished they had gotten a CR-1.  Opinions please.

[powerpuff 5,894]

Considering the delays, embassies not uniformly processing K-1s, the uncertainty of the future and when this pandemic is going to finally end, I’d go for the CR-1 at this point in time. At least many more embassies are processing CR-1 as opposed to K-1. 

[Crazy Cat 39,220]

17 minutes ago, Caboose29 said:

I'm about to start my K-1 journey, but after doing some reading here it seems like doing a CR-1 may be better, faster, easier.  It's my understanding under "'normal" circumstances a K-1 gets my significant other here quicker, but with Covid, and the hassles after she gets here (AoS, SS, etc.), would it be a better choice to just get married now, and file for a CR-1?  If it matters, she lives in Russia.

 

I know no one has a crystal ball, but just seeking advice from those that know much more about this process than me.  I have read a few posts from people who got K-1s, but afterwards, wished they had gotten a CR-1.  Opinions please.

Just as a reminder as to why I think a CR-1 is superior for many couples.

 

Every couple has their own priorities, and each couple must decide which visa is better for their situation.

K-1      
    More expensive than CR-1    
    Requires Adjustment of Status after marriage (expensive and requires a lot of paperwork)    
    Spouse can not leave the US until she/he receives approved Advance Parole (approx 5-6 months)    
    Spouse can not work until she/he receives EAD (approx 5-6 months)    
    Some people have had problems with driver licenses, Social Security cards, leases, bank account during this period    
    Spouse will not receive Green Card for many months after Adjustment of Status is filed.
    A denied K-1 is sent back to USCIS to expire
  

CR-1   

    Less expensive than K-1    
    No Adjustment of Status(I-485, I-131, I-765, I-944) required.    
    Spouse can immediately travel outside the US    
    Spouse is authorized to work immediately upon arrival.    
    Spouse receives Social Security Card and Green Card within 2 or 3 weeks after entering the US    
    Opening a bank account, getting a driver's license, etc. are very easily accomplished with GC, SS card, and passport.

    Spouse has legal permanent Resident status IMMEDIATELY upon entry to US.
  �

 

Edited January 5, 2021 by Lucky Cat

[Caboose29 172]

Lucky Cat, your posts are one of the reasons why I started this thread. 😁👍

[JeanneAdil 6,194]

Even before the pandemic,  the processing time of a K1 was getting longer and longer because of the huge numbers of applications 

go CR1 

you won't regret it 

not only because of the additional fees with a K1 but doing all the paperwork over and over after marriage for AOS, EAD,  AP and then ROC means you have to do things for immigration year after year.

do the CR1 and then just ROC and natuarization 

so much easier

 

just reading so many posts on here that while people wait after AOS for so long and then the ROC ,  they are eligible for naturalization before all the other stuff is even done

Edited January 5, 2021 by JeanneAdil

[Dashinka 23,242]

I would also vote for the CR1 if for no other reason then to avoid the AOS (we did the K1 back in 2013/2014).  I would research figuring out how to get married somewhere, if you want to get married in Russia, I am not sure how difficult that is, but considering the bureaucracy there, I imagine there are a few hoops.  Maybe @millefleur might have some information.

 

Good Luck!

[DaveAndAnastasia 2,078]

The biggest downside to doing a CR-1 with a Russian fiancé(e) even in normal times is that marrying a foreigner in Russia is a pain and your fiancée almost certainly can't get a tourist visa for the US, so you pretty much have to do a third-country wedding unless you're able to spend a month or more in Russia.

 

Now it's even more difficult because finding a place that satisfies all of 

• Americans can legally go there
• Russians can legally go there
• actually meeting there is practical given travel time and cost and quarantine rules
• two foreigners can marry quickly there

... is going to be complicated.

[SalishSea 16,770]

Neither option is fast.....

[Caboose29 172]

37 minutes ago, Dashinka said:

I would also vote for the CR1 if for no other reason then to avoid the AOS (we did the K1 back in 2013/2014).  I would research figuring out how to get married somewhere, if you want to get married in Russia, I am not sure how difficult that is, but considering the bureaucracy there, I imagine there are a few hoops.  Maybe @millefleur might have some information.

 

Good Luck!

I'm half wishing we would have gotten married last month when she and I were in Istanbul for 2 weeks.  

25 minutes ago, DaveAndAnastasia said:

The biggest downside to doing a CR-1 with a Russian fiancé(e) even in normal times is that marrying a foreigner in Russia is a pain and your fiancée almost certainly can't get a tourist visa for the US, so you pretty much have to do a third-country wedding unless you're able to spend a month or more in Russia.

 

Now it's even more difficult because finding a place that satisfies all of 

• Americans can legally go there
• Russians can legally go there
• actually meeting there is practical given travel time and cost and quarantine rules
• two foreigners can marry quickly there

... is going to be complicated.

Turkey checks all those boxes.

 

Arranging a legal "JP" equivalent ceremony only requires 2-3 days lead time in Turkey.  Russians can travel there with NO visa requirements.  I think if we'd had the forethought to bring our divorce decrees we could have just done it while we were there last month.

Edited January 5, 2021 by Caboose29

[Ed&Midori1031 330]

If ai could go back in time, I would've gone the CR-1 route. Not saying I regret the K-1 decision, but maybe would've been a different situation for my wife and I. 

[HKS 169]

14 minutes ago, Caboose29 said:

I'm half wishing we would have gotten married last month when she and I were in Istanbul for 2 weeks.  

Turkey checks all those boxes.

 

Arranging a legal "JP" equivalent ceremony only requires 2-3 days lead time in Turkey.  Russians can travel there with NO visa requirements.  I think if we'd had the forethought to bring our divorce decrees we could have just done it while we were there last month.

Im not sure where you get “2-3 days” from. We got married in Turkey and it took a lot longer than that before COVID. 

It involves getting documentation from both your embassy and your fiancé embassy. Plus the embassies have to be open for that kind of service, which a lot are not at the moment. You have to file with Turkey and get your documents approved before you can proceed. Also, a lot of Turkey is currently on covid lockdown. 
Probably requires a lot of research and planning to get it done. 
We had a lawyer to help and it still took some time. 

[HKS 169]

I do agree; however, that CR1/IR1 is better choice when considering the US government side of the process. 
 

Sad immigration right now is long,  depressing and frustrating. 

[Chauncey 138]

59 minutes ago, Caboose29 said:

I'm half wishing we would have gotten married last month when she and I were in Istanbul for 2 weeks.  

Turkey checks all those boxes.

 

Arranging a legal "JP" equivalent ceremony only requires 2-3 days lead time in Turkey.  Russians can travel there with NO visa requirements.  I think if we'd had the forethought to bring our divorce decrees we could have just done it while we were there last month.

Are you sure about that? I've looked at the marriage requirements for turkey before for two foreigners and they aren't very simple... 

Me and @Strawberrymermaid have both tried looking into marriage already several times and we still could find nothing simple during this time, which is why we've stuck with k1

Edited January 5, 2021 by Chauncey

[Justus Forever 85]

Hello all to be honest it's up to you some people have good results long results and bad results. I had once thought about the k1 just to have my family here at that time is was not which one was moving faster to me it was about my finance and would I be able to keep paying after they got here my husband and 2 daughters. I know he wouldn't be able to travel work nothing and I didn't want him to get bored and I don't even know if the kids would have been allowed to go to school with no ss# but then I thought again about the extra money and extra filing and this and that. I decided to go with CR1 yes it takes longer but they won't have to go through half the stuff k1 goes through. I am waiting for Haiti embassy they have been doing k1 interviews left in right while CR1/IR1 are waiting since 2019 but because of the covid one put a halt there and also with K1 they don't get so much into it because after 90 days you will have to file more paperwork and pay more money when then they will go through as much time as us only good thing you family is with you. I agree so much with lucky cat and you can read all we write but it's up to you because only you know what you can handle. Do I regret not sticking to the k1 oh no but I miss my family crazy.

[HKS 169]

Agree, and hindsight is 20/20